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A BILL FOR AN ORDINANCE TO BE ENTITLED "AN ORDINANCE TO ESTABLISH MINIMUM STANDARDS OF MATERIALS AND WORKMANSHIP USED IN ELECTRICAL INSTALLATIONS AND REPAIRS: TO ESTABLISH RULES AND REGULATIONS GOVERNING THE MAKING OF ELECTRICAL INSTALLATIONS AND REPAIRS: TO ESTABLISH PERMIT AND INSPECTION FEES IN CONNECTION THEREWITH; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES." (NOTE: THIS ORDINANCE WAS AMENDED BY ORD-75:2276 ON MARCH 3, 1975)
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BE IT ORDAINED by the City Council of the City of Jonesboro, Arkansas:
SECTION 1
(A) The purpose of this ordinance is the practical safeguarding of persons and buildings and their contents from electrical dangers and hazards arising from the use of electricity for light, heat, power, radio, signaling, and for other purposes. It covers electrical conductors and equipment installed inside and outside of private and public buildings and other remises, including yards, carnivals and parking lots.
(B) The requirements of this ordinance constitute a minimum standard only. Compliance therewith will result in installations reasonable free from danger and hazards, but not necessarily efficient or convenient. The provisions of this ordinance shall not be regarded as a design specification or as an instruction manual for untrained persons. Good service and satisfactory results will often require larger sizes of wire, more branch circuits, and better types of equipment than the minimum herein specified.
SECTION 2
(A) Each person, firm or corporation desiring to install or repair the above mentioned interior wiring or other apparatus for the use of electrical current in the City of Jonesboro, Arkansas, shall, before commencing or doing any work, file an application in writing for a permit therefor with the City Collector of the City of Jonesboro, which application shall describe in detail the materials and apparatus to be used, give the plans and specifications of the proposed work, and the street address and location on the premises where the work is to be done. Forms for making such applications shall be furnished by the City of Jonesboro thru its Collector.
(B) All such applications shall be passed upon by the Electrical Inspector of the City of Jonesboro, and if it be found by him that they conform to all applicable ordinances of the City of Jonesboro, including this ordinance, a permit for the proposed work shall be given by him in triplicate over his signature.
(C) Any person, firm or corporation doing or attempting to do any electrical work within the City of Jonesboro without having procured and then possessing the required permit shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punished as hereinafter provided. No permit shall be required or necessary for the making of minor repairs which do not involve the use of new wire, fixtures or equipment.
(D) Permits under this ordinance may be issued only to persons, firms or corporations duly licensed by the City of Jonesboro, Arkansas, under the ordinance pertaining to the licensing of persons, firms and corporations qualified thereunder, to engage in the making of electrical installations and repairs within the City of Jonesboro, who have and maintain in the City of Jonesboro, permanent places of business, with their names prominently displayed on the front thereof, or who having no permanent places of business in the City of Jonesboro, possess an instrument in writing wherein some resident of the City of Jonesboro is appointed as his, their or its agent upon whom process may be served in any suit brought in any court sitting at Jonesboro, Arkansas, for the recovery of damages to compensate breached of contracts or personal injuries or damages to property pertaining to, or resulting from, or growing out of electrical installations of repairs made in the City of Jonesboro by such persons, firms or corporations. The appointment of said agent for service of process shall continue in effect for one year, after work is complete, at least.
SECTION 3: Where a permit for the installation of wiring has been applied for and granted by the City Collector, the Electrical Inspector may grant a temporary permit to connect the electrical current for such period of time as shall be just a reasonable, the facts and circumstances considered, before such temporary permit to connect the electric current shall be granted, however, the Licensed Electrician and the owner or occupant of the premises shall enter into an agreement in writing that unless final inspection is applied for and made, and the work approved, the electric current may be automatically cut off without notice. Before work has begun on wiring, a set of building plans and specifications shall be shown the Inspector. Each form to each contractor shall be the same. The service entrance location shall be approved in writing by the electric utility serving Jonesboro.
SECTION 4: Whenever any person, firm or corporation has obtained a permit to install or to do any electrical work, and whenever an inspection of such work by the Electrical Inspector or his assistants discloses that such work is not done in accordance with the National Electrical Code, or is not done in conformity with the provisions of this ordinance, it shall be the duty of the Electrical Inspector to serve notice upon such permit holder, pointing out the defects in such work or installation, and such permit holder shall proceed immediately to correct such defects and to make the work and materials conform to the provisions of this ordinance and the National Electrical Code for electrical wiring and apparatus, In the event such permit holder neglects or refuses to promptly comply with this ordinance and the National Electrical Code, the Electrical Inspector shall forthwith notify the Board of Electrical Examiners and Supervisors of the City of Jonesboro, Arkansas, of such neglect or refusal, and said Board is empowered and directed, in its discretion, to instruct the City Collector of the City of Jonesboro not to issue any other permits for the making of electrical installations or repairs to the said offending permit holder until such time as he, they or it, shall have made the electrical work complained of, conform to this ordinance and the National Electrical Code, and procured the Electrical Inspector's approval thereof.
SECTION 5: No alterations or additions shall be made in any electrical installations without first notifying the Electrical Inspector thereof, procuring a permit for such work, submitting to the Electrical Inspector for examination to the plans and specifications covering the proposed work, and paying the fees provided in this ordinance. If it is desired to increase the number of circuits called for in an original permit, such increase shall be considered as an addition to the original installation and a permit procured therefore, for which a fee shall be paid as for addition. When an addition is made to, and an alteration is made in, any installation of electrical work, the number of circuits or other electrical apparatus previously in service in any such installation, together with the character thereof, shall be fully stated in the permit for additions or alterations.
SECTION 6
(A) All electrical work for which permits are required by this ordinance shall be inspected by the Electrical Inspector of the City of Jonesboro before it may be accepted by the owner and put into operation or use, and the person, firm or corporation to which any such permit is issued shall apply to the Electrical Inspector of the City of Jonesboro for an inspection of such work within thirty days from the date of the permit, unless such work is completed prior thereto, in which event application for inspection shall be made as soon as such electrical work is ready for inspection. Before any interior electrical wiring shall be concealed from view, the person, firm or corporation installing the same shall give written notice to the Electrical Inspector of the City of Jonesboro, who, as soon as possible after the receipt of said notice, shall inspect said work, No such work shall be concealed from view prior to the expiration of thirty-six hours from receipt of the aforesaid notice by the Electrical Inspector shall have made his inspection and approved the work prior to the expiration of said thirty-six hours.
(B) Before any electrical current shall be used upon any interior electrical wiring of the character mentioned in the foregoing paragraph of this section, written notice shall be served upon the Electrical Inspector that an inspection thereof is desired, whereupon the Electrical Inspector shall, as soon as possible, inspect said wiring, and issue a certificate of inspection covering the same which certificate shall contain a general description of the installation and the date of inspection and approval. No current shall be used prior to the issuance of such certificate. The Electrical Inspector may, however, issue temporary permits for the use of electric currents during the course of construction or alteration of buildings, which temporary permits shall expire when the electrical apparition of buildings, which temporary permits shall expire when the electrical apparatus for said building is fully installed, whereupon the Electrical Inspector shall have the current cut off until final inspection is made and a certificate of inspection and approval has been issued.
SECTION 7
(A) The Electrical Inspector is hereby empowered to inspect or re-inspect, or to have inspected or re-inspected, all interior apparatus, and wire conducting electric current for light, or power and when conductors or apparatus are found to be unsafe to life or property, he shall notify the person, firm or corporation owning or using the same, to place the same in a safe and secure condition within forty-eight hours. Any person, firm or corporation failing to comply with such shall be punished as hereinafter provided.
(B) No system or installation of interior electrical wiring in any commercial or industrial building which has been vacated shall be used again as an electrical conductor without re-inspection by the Electrical Inspector. The Electrical Inspector, for good cause shown, may issue a temporary permit in such cases until re-inspection can be made. No charge shall be made for such re-inspection or permit.
SECTION 8: Interior wiring and other apparatus, as referred to in this ordinance shall be constructed to mean all wiring done within the City of Jonesboro, Arkansas, except such outside wiring on poles, transmission lines, conduits, or in sub-stations, up to the customers measuring device, done by any public utility supplying the City of Jonesboro or the inhabitants thereof with light, power, telephone or telegraph service. Wherever applicable, the rules and regulations herein provided for interior wiring shall apply to outside wiring, and the Electrical Inspector in empowered to control and inspect all wiring outside of buildings for the purpose of enforcing the provisions of this ordinance for the public safety. Permits shall be procured for outside wiring just as in the case of interior wiring, and the fees hereinafter provided shall be charged, paid and collected.
SECTION 9: The City Council of the City of Jonesboro, with the advise and approval of the Board of Electrical Examiners thereof, shall annually appoint an Electrical Inspector for the City of Jonesboro, who shall be an electrician of at least five years actual experience, and who shall give bond in the penal sum of $1,000, conditioned that he will account for all moneys coming into his hands as such Electrical Inspector and that he will faithfully perform and discharge all of the duties of the office. His salary shall be such sum as may be fixed from the time to time by the City Council of the City of Jonesboro. The Electrical Inspector is empowered to appoint assistant electrical inspectors, whose compensation shall be fixed by the City Council of the City of Jonesboro.
SECTION 10: It shall be unlawful and a misdemeanor punishable as provided in this ordinance for any person, firm or corporation in the City of Jonesboro, to sell or offer for sale, any electrical appliances, devices or materials, which, when used, are dangerous to life, health or property.
SECTION 11: This ordinance shall not be construed to effect the responsibility or liability of any person, firm or corporation, owning, operating, controlling or installing materials, devices, appliances or equipment for damages to persons or property caused by any defects therein, nor shall the City of Jonesboro be held to assume any such liability by reason of the approval of any material, device, appliance or equipment authorized herein.
SECTION 12: For the purpose of defraying the cost of providing proper facilities and inspections pursuant to this ordinance, the following permit and inspection fees are hereby established for application in all cases where the cost of the installation or repairs exceeds $10.00:
(1) INSTALLATION OR REPAIR OF INDUSTRIAL OR COMMERCIAL EQUIPMENT OR APPARATUS:
Service entrance
$1.00
First horsepower or outlet
. 2.00
Next 2 to 10 horsepower or outlets
each .25
All units over 10 horsepower or outlets
. each .10
(2) ALL OTHER ELECTRICAL INSTALLATIONS OR REPAIRS:
Service entrance
. $1.00
Repairs or installations (includes one circuit where circuits are installed)
1.00
Next nine
.50
Balance
.25
(A) Where the cost of the installation or the repairs is $10.00 or less there shall be no charge for the required permit.
(B) The foregoing fees include all inspections pursuant to this ordinance.
(C) The fees prescribed in clauses (a) and (b) hereof shall be collected by the City Collector of the City of Jonesboro and by him paid over to the City Treasurer of the City of Jonesboro.
(D)Where motors and generators are combined as motor-generator sets, the permit fee shall be based on the motor only.
(E) When generators and motors are installed at the same time, and the generators are to supply current for the motors whichever is the greater in horsepower.
(F) For connecting signs to existing outlets or for connecting signs having not more than 2 sockets or 100 watts each, there shall be no fee.
SECTION 13: No certificate of inspection shall be issued unless the electric light, power and heating installations are in strict conformity with the provisions of this ordinance, and unless they are in conformity with the approved methods of construction for safety to life and property. The regulations as laid down in the latest National Electric Code, as approved by the American Standards Association, shall be prima facie evidence of such approved methods, subject to the limitations and exceptions contained in this ordinance.
SECTION 14: The following rules to govern local conditions shall be exceptions to the National Electrical Code:
(1) Overhaul permits will be issued only for repair on existing wiring, any new wiring shall be on the regular permit basis.
(2) No appliances requiring a separate circuit shall be wired in without a permit.
(3) No meter shall be disconnected from line by anyone other than those securing permission to do so from the utility company supplying power.
(4) Bare Neutral is optional.
(5) No meter shall be less than 6 feet or more than 7 feet from ground level.
(6) All meters shall be accessible at all times and where possible, placed on the outside of the building.
(7) No service shall be less than #6-3 wiring unless special permission is secured.
(8) Service entrance shall clear above ground at least 12 feet.
(9) Service masts shall be not less than 2" rigid conduit.
(10) Thin wall conduit shall not be used for service entrance.
(11) Ground rods not less than 8'x ½" shall be used at entrance. No plumbing grounds shall be permitted.
(12) Circuit breaker cans or fuse panels containing more than 8 possible circuits shall have a master switch or breaker.
(13) No more than one light opening shall be permitted on any one receptacle circuit, or one receptacle on a lighting circuit.
(14) No circuit shall be wired with less than #12 wires.
(15) All buildings in the Fire District and all commercial buildings shall be wired in metal conduit. The Fire District being defined in Ordinance ______.
(16) The National Electric Code shall be followed in all cases where this ordinance does not apply.
(17) All transformers used on gas-filled signs or lamp shall be 95% power corrected.
(18) All work shall be done in a workman-like manner.
SECTION 15
(A) Any person, firm or corporation who shall do any act or thing in any manner contrary to the requirements of this ordinance or who shall fail to do any act or thing by this ordinance required to be done by such person, firm or corporations, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by a fine of not less than one or more than one hundred dollars. Each day, such violation shall continue shall constitute a separate offense.
(B) Any person, firm or corporation who shall conceal from view unsoldered joints or connections, or who shall put spliced wire into conduits, or who shall use current contrary to the provisions of this ordinance, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by a fine of not less than one and not more than one hundred dollars.
(C) The electrical Inspector is empowered to direct the Electric Utility serving Jonesboro to disconnect electric current when he finds that it is being used on any work where this ordinance is not being complied with fully, and to keep such current cut off until this ordinance has been complied with.
(D) The Electrical Inspector is empowered and directed to notify in writing any person, firm or corporation furnishing electric current to any person, firm or corporation violating this ordinance that the violation therein described exists and that unless the violation cease within 48 hours from the mailing of such notice, the electric current must be, by the furnisher of such electric current, cut off and denied to such person, firm or corporation so violating this ordinance until such time as the violation shall have ceased.
SECTION 16: If any section, sub-section, sentence, clause or phrase of this ordinance is held to be unconstitutional, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remainder (remaining portions) of this ordinance.
SECTION 17: All ordinances and parts of ordinances in conflict with the provisions of this ordinance, including Sections No.745 to and including 753 of Carroll's Digest (1934) of the laws and ordinances of the City of Jonesboro, Arkansas, are hereby repealed.
SECTION 18: No electrical contractor shall allow anyone except his employees to use his license and permits.
SECTION 19: An electric committee should be appointed to revise and improve this Code from year to year.
SECTION 20: It is found that inferior workmanship and the use of materials in the making of electrical installations and repairs which do not meet the generally accepted standards of minimum requirements are dangerous to both life and property because they create hazards of fire and electric shock; that existing ordinances of the City of Jonesboro are woefully inadequate to protect the people and property of Jonesboro from such hazards and dangers; and that, as a consequence, it is necessary to the protection of the public peace, health and safety that this ordinance becomes effective without delay; therefore an emergency is hereby declared to exist, and this ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after its passage.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 5th day of May, 1958.